Timeless Song of Love – A review of the book ‘The Spirit of a Sultan’


“The secret of Sufism is that it has no secret at all” ― Idries Shah

‘The essential truths of Sufism exist in all religions’, and no one knows this better than a Sufi practitioner who are often know to be mystic; and Sufi practices are considered as the mystical practices of Islam. Mysticism often refers to the collective of all the outer forms of a religious practice, along with living a life based on certain moral and ethical principles. If religious laws give religion a firm base to stand strong, it is often mysticism that helps one to reach the ultimate truth or God. The many saints and sages of the Islam religion were in fact all Sufi masters. For thousands of years, Sufi practices have co-existed and grown and helped grow Islam’s reach throughout the world along with its other practises & cultures.

Teachings of Sufi too are very practical in nature. Even though one would attribute teachings told within a mystical framework as something one would find difficult to comprehend, but surprisingly this isn’t the case with Sufism; the idea to spread the word and wisdom of God in such a way that even the lay man can understand him better is its main goal. Becoming one with God, becoming whole once again is what a Sufi practitioner strives to achieve.

In author Ahmad Javid’s latest book, ‘The Spirit of a Sultan’, the author narrates a historical novel centred around the life and times of one of history’s most revered and venerated Muslim scholar and poet, Hazrat Sultan Bahu. Bahu whose name itself means ‘with God’ was a saint and a Sufi poet who founded the Sarwari Qadiri Sufi order. Most books on Sufism and Islam and its mysticism are attributed to him. His couplets and poems have had a lasting impact and are sung even today in qawali and kafi forms. Although based on true events and historical people, the novel employs certain fictional liberties to tell a biographical story of a great poet and saint. It follows Sultan Bahu’s life history, his spiritual journey and the impact he had on the world, all the while showing us how to connect better with God in our hearts and minds.

The Spirit of a Sultan is a biographical account of Hazrat Sultan Bahu’s life and times. Whatever it is that we know today about Sultan Bahu has been in the form of tales and written works like the Manaqib-e-Sultani written by Sultan Hamid Sarwari Qaderi in the Persian language. Dr Ahmad Javid has brought out a very thoroughly researched and well written book that not only introduces to the reader the life of a gentle spirit but also shows a fictionalized account of a glimpse into the life in the Mughal times and their various conflicts all of which transports the reader to a historical world.

The book starts with a bang and the thrilling and mind captivating battle scenes will pull you right into the story. Bazaid Muhammad Awan’s courage and fighting skills will enthral the readers completely and sets up the first chapter and the book just perfect. Bazaid marries Bibi Rasti and out of their union is born the great Bahu. The rest of the book shows Sultan Bahu’s quest for divine knowledge and the way his teachings & messages of mystic Sufism, journeys your soul on a path of spiritual highway and towards the final destination that is God. All things present comes from him and will eventually need to find its way back home, getting immersed in the oneness and wholeness of the single God.

The Spirit of a Sultan oscillates between telling a story and telling about the history behind an event, and this works well because this is also probably the best way to teach history to students. And although narration of history can never be full and final or complete, as each historian will have his own way to interpret the happening of events to better suit the message he has chosen to send out; Dr Ahmad Javid’s book is pretty accurate in its retelling of events and you won’t find anything controversial in them. All in all there are four parts to the book, each part dealing with a particular phase in Sultan Bahu’s life. And the last chapter is devoted to Faqir Nur Muhammad who was Sultan Bahu’s devotee and disciple and whose efforts bore fruit to ensure that the saint’s teaching spread all across the world.

I recommend this book to both Muslims and non Muslims alike and anyone who is interested in learning more about the life of the great Sufi saint Sultan Bahu. This fictional style of writing makes this book a must read and the real photographs and original poems and prayers are a definite bonus. The Spirit of the Sultan enjoys the best of both what the fiction and nonfiction worlds has to offer and is a wonderful work from a very learned mind.

An Eye Opener – A review of the book ‘The Kidney Sellers: A Journey of Discovery in Iran’


“If any civilization is to survive, it is the morality of altruism that men have to reject” – Ayn Rand

People who dream to see a better future, not just for themselves, but for everyone in their community work tirelessly to do the right thing in life. Changing the world always starts with a small and a simple act, usually done on a daily basis. The step by step process involves changing our habits, beliefs, and roles we have within our society, and by also becoming conscious of the consequences of our everyday action. This must also lead to understanding emotions better, not just of our own but also of the people around us. Passionate people with big hearts and an even bigger vision for the little home we all call planet earth often undertake such personal journeys that change the course of the fate of all mankind.

Dr Sigrid Fry-Revere’s nonfiction book ‘The Kidney Sellers: A Journey of Discovery in Iran’ is a systematic study of people and culture told within the backdrop of the kidney donor shortage in the U.S to a seemingly trouble free Iran in the same regard. Set in the format of a quasi adventure story and part documentary style, this research rich book primarily focuses on Iran and the Iranian medical culture that seems to have overcome the problem of kidney shortage for transplants through compensated organ donation. The Kidney Sellers is an exploration into the underbelly of it all, where the author looks at the ethics of compensating for organ donation; from exploitation to the numerous number of lives it has managed to save. Sigrid Fry-Revere tries to find answer to the question why patients are dying in U.S for a lack of kidneys while there is actually a waiting list of people willing to donate in Iran.

This scholarly work began as a quest to find solutions to the U.S. organ shortage, as there are over 100,000 Americans who need organ transplants at any given time. When Dr. Sigrid learns that Iran is supposed to have a waiting list of donors, she flies out there to research the ethics and even functionality of compensated kidney transplants. She finds out that there are some strict guidelines laid out when it comes to organ transplant in Iran plus a combination of recipient monetary donation and government help which ensures that the donor gets the best medical treatment post surgery. All this has contributed to Iran solving the kidney shortage problem to almost a full extent. Comparatively in America the congressional law preventing compensated kidney transfers and a preference to cadaver organ donation to live donation has all contributed to a pitiable condition for the patients who suffer waiting for the kidney, as the demand keeps outrunning the supply of cadaver kidneys. It has also given way to a parallel black market for kidneys, but this has often ended up exploiting the patients than helping them. Sigrid through her work wants to tell people that a good idea is a good idea no matter where it originated from and sometimes overcoming hasty emotional responses or predisposed judgement calls is necessary to see the bigger and possibly the brighter picture.

Early on in an understated but pivotal moment in the book the author describes meeting Steve, a friend of a friend currently on dialysis and also on the waiting list for kidney transplant. Description of the author’s meeting with Steve presents itself as the perfect start to the rest of the book. It grabs hold of you by the cuff of your collar and shocks you into attention with the absolute reality of the human element in the entire issue. Sigrid Fry-Revere comes across as very worldly wise, perhaps due to all the travel to different parts of the world and being introduced to different cultures as a child and also perhaps because of the early start to discussions on ethics with her parents, all of which seem to have helped her prepare better and undertake this journey which has been nothing short of an epic one in its preparation, build up and execution.

It’s not often you pick up a book that doesn’t have a detective, a vampire or pretty young things as its ‘heroes’ and yet compels you to read it cover to cover in one sitting. There are a large number of human interest stories that reveal themselves in light of the interviews that Sigrid conducts, which are both staggering and heart warming at the same time. Sigrid’s Iranian adventure has this very subtle undercurrent of humour element to it, especially in the beginning when she’s acclimatizing to the foreign environment, which is very original and helps in establishing this instant connection to the author’s pursuits.

A couple of subtle gems that you will in this book are the chapter numbers which are also shown in Farsi numerals and the use of image of a lotus flower as a typographic symbol for section breaks all somehow lead more authenticity and helps establish the mood, since most of the book does deal with Iran. It would be tough for anyone with a mature and functioning conscience reading the book not to feel the gravity of the situation and feel this compelling urge to do something, a positive step in the right direction, to contribute to solving this crisis.

Highly recommended.

True Reflections – A review of the book ‘The Space Within’


“There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophy” - Friedrich Nietzsche

The only truth is now; the only moment to be is in the present, for that’s when life happens. But more often than not we let the present and in effect life slip away, allowing time and memories of yore to rush into our lives unrestrained, squandering away the precious seconds of our lives as we alternate between worrying about our future and ruminating about the past. This is mostly because we don’t undertake our thoughts actively or in complete awareness, rather we let our thoughts control us. But we need to be in control of our thoughts, live in the moment and thus become more mindful. Because when you become mindful, you will realize that you are not your thoughts, you simply become an observer of your thoughts without judging them.

Now while everyone is in agreement that it's important to live in the moment, not knowing how to is the problem everyone faces.

In author Hunter Kane Sparrow’s book, ‘The Space Within’, the author tries to help you reveal what is already within you. Because when you connect with your inner being it urges you to create a keener awareness towards every aspect of your life. There is a lot of unconscious thought and behaviour pattern we all have become slaves to, which have often caused pain and suffering to us by unnecessarily tying us down to our pasts or make us worry about our future, all the while ignoring our present; which truly is a gift. The Space Within encourages you to awaken yourselves to this great power inside you, to rediscover our strengths and observe the power of everyday moments while you are fully and truly conscious through every second of it.

The author covers a wide array of topics including notes on life, love, God, fear of future among others such as how the young always stress upon a point in the future, an image of themselves they like to see and the old always stresses upon the past, an image of themselves at which they think they were at their most desirable state. Hunter says that men have a false identity to a faith or a belief system in the hope that this will take care of their future. Instead he advices us to be more child like, to find wonder and excitement in newer experiences. The Space Within also points to stop trying to improve life through external and material elements, because such efforts by men to bring more happiness into his life in fact seem to do the opposite and brings more unhappiness. A running theme in the book is that you should never get caught up within the confines of your description made by others; you always have time, open your eyes and embrace the present moment and stop putting too much emphasis on the future.

The Space Within has a good balance of western and eastern thought process and philosophy in its writing. Short and concise chapters without over reaching or under telling, the narrative flows smoothly, hitting all the right notes of the profound and deeply insightful messages that are being shared. Hunter Kane Sparrow has a honest and non assuming tone, he doesn’t claim this book to contain all the ‘answers’, all solutions to your problems or that it will help you find your real self. It’s intended to be used more as a mirror that will help reflect the finer point within, the qualities you may have missed all along.

I suggest you not to read this book cover to cover in one sitting. Instead keep it by your bed stand and read a page or two before going to bed or better yet, read it early in the morning as your day starts. It will help make your mind uncluttered and guarantee a good day. It is recommended for people of all ages, the young and the old who are still trying to figure ‘it’ all out. Sometimes philosophy is esoteric, but this book succeeds in explaining it with lots of examples, allegorical stories and proverbs. The Space Within is a non-intimidating book, yet highly informative that encourages critical thinking based on thoughts and ideas from the best in the world.

I cannot recommend this book enough.

First Contact – A review of the book ‘Look Up’


“All things must change to something new, to something strange” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

When you look up in the night sky and stare at them stars, do you not wonder and ask yourselves the question man has been asking since time immemorial. Is there anyone else out there? Are we the only beings in this vast expanse of universe? Now if you are not one of those who believe in the two thousand year old history of earth then you must be aware of the scientific fact that our Earth is only a tiny speck of dust in the 200 billion stars strong Milky Way galaxy which itself is just one amongst the 170+ billion galaxies floating around in this ever expanding universe.

Still think we are all alone?

In author Devara ThunderBeat’s nonfiction book, ‘Look Up: My Encounters with ETs & Angels’ she shares with everyone her lifelong experiences dealing with extra terrestrials and her unique extra sensory powers or gifts. From a first contact with an extra terrestrial when she was only 4 years old, Devara’s life has seen them make a comeback many a time but not in the Hollywood ish grotesque, hostile, world domination manner but rather a series of spiritual and enlightening experiences. Various energy fields surrounds us, each wave emitting a unique and different rhythm and perhaps it was only natural that Devara took to drums and became an accomplished player in her childhood itself considering the alternate beats of life that she would go on to crack in the future. This book provides the reader a never before seen insight into the many alternate realms of our life and takes you on a adventure along with Devara as reveals the reason behind her adopted Native American surname, her work with Reiki and Chakra healing, her trips to Egypt and Mayan country both of which result in creation of highly successful and popular compact discs that have helped many people the world over. It also talks about what the future holds in store for our planet earth, ergo for each of us in the long run.

Right off the bat, when you are dealing with a subject like extra terrestrials and angels, the discerning audience automatically gets segregated into two distinct groups - those who believe and those who don’t. Those who believe won’t need yet another media representation to cement their beliefs and will easily lap up everything offered in this book. It is to the non believers that I want to suggest to give this book a try; not to change you, not to magically transform your allegiance over to the other side but read it to enable your senses to accept newer sights and sounds and knowledge, to perhaps try and understand the miniscule status of our existence in the grander scheme of things. And thus perhaps liberate yourselves from the shackles of yesteryear education and upbringing.

Look Up: My Encounters with ETs & Angels is the perfect blend of psychology and spirituality. It is written in a straightforward and honest manner and is an easy read. There are a lot of photographs and illustrations in the book, which are not only awe inspiring and pleasing to the eye but they also add credibility to the accompanying text. A definite highlight is the Egyptian leg of the adventure which is both informative and oddly fascinating at the same time.

I strongly recommend this book to everyone. Devara has the courage to talk about things we aren't talking but should be. She has the intelligence and acumen to question some long-held beliefs that need to be revaluated and repositioned in the ever changing context of scientific discoveries. The way Devara states some simple truths and obvious facts which we may not necessarily have taken notice of ourselves manage to catch you off guard and yet it brings a smile to your lips. The author rightfully encourages everyone to be more open minded, listen to your own heart and to have the courage to ask all the right questions. Remember the book for the rare ray of hope and joyful vision of future it provides in these depressing times.

Wondering why such events have never occurred in your life? Why you haven’t seen them first hand? Maybe now is the time to finally Look Up!

Love Revelations – A review of the book ‘Hunt 'N Bunny in Wonderland’

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see” - Mark Twain

Women say they have to kiss a lot of frogs before they find their prince. Men may have it slightly better in that they have to kiss a lot of ‘princesses’ before they find their queen of hearts.

The right man or woman brings more than just stability or companionship to your life. When you meet the right person all aspects of your life, fall right into a new and better order. A healthy and supportive relationship can provide a new sense of direction and purpose!

So what causes all the resentments and fights? Perhaps it’s just plain old misunderstanding, a lack of proper and meaningful communication. What men want from women can often be vastly different from what women think men want from them and vice versa. This breakdown in communication leads to feelings of resentment in men and hopelessness in women. When the sad reality is that, men and women want pretty much the same things from life; peace and harmony, fun, and a whole lot of love.

Hunt Henion’s latest book, ‘Hunt ‘N Bunny In Wonderland’ is a personal account of his adventures finding love, along with its many revelations, through his partner, Bunny. This inspiring tale encourages us to open our senses a bit more and be receptive to the radiant energy of love that is just waiting for us out there -- ready to enter our lives. Hunt shares his very personal revelations on love, romance and true intimacy with everyone through this book!

‘Hunt ‘N Bunny In Wonderland’ is in many ways one man’s ode to his love and how a single woman turned his whole life around. This theme is set and put into perspective in the Introduction by Harold W. Becker, author, President and Founder of non profit organisation ‘The Love Foundation. Mr. Becker sets up the book beautifully and raises the expectation level sky high.

It’s pretty obvious that the whole book is a play on Lewis Carroll’s Alice In Wonderland, albeit a very clever one. “Hunt 'n Bunny” looms large over Lewis Carroll's classic with some original and wonderful artwork and personal photographs that all add a mixture of awe and honesty to Hunt’s words.

This is a fantastic book that I found both funny and insightful. Hunt’s sermon that focusing on love provides the best chance for creating peace and harmony in our lives really touches the right chord within me. It encourages the reader to open up and take care of their partner’s every need without worrying if it will be reciprocated in kind or in equal measure. Hunt descends into a different world when he finds love, then takes us with him as in the resulting steep ascendance of revelation, joy, and fulfilment.

‘Hunt ‘N Bunny In Wonderland’ is a breezy read that will have you glued to your seat with a smile on your face, especially if you have a special someone in your life. If not, you will feel the pang of having let that ‘one’ go, but you'll also be empowered to find someone even better. Hunt has kept his voice simple and approachable, without adding any unnecessary mumbo jumbo just to make it sound new age or sophisticated. He tells a sweet love story, and Hunt’s adolescent like giddy passion with which he describes Bunny and his love for her is both charming and infectious.

This is a disarmingly honest book, every page you turn will see you lose your scepticism and believe once again in the power of love -- of meeting someone who feels like an extension of yourself, the one right that can undo all the wrongs in your life! Whenever you are feeling down thinking about your relationship, reading this book is sure to give the necessary lift.

‘Hunt ‘N Bunny In Wonderland’ is a study of unconditional love filled with strength, courage, intimacy and honesty and is highly recommended to everyone.

Within your grasp – A review of the book ‘The Everyday Space Traveler’

“Many a trip continues long after movement in time and space have ceased” - John Steinbeck

From staying in caves surrounded by dim lit fireflies to staying in penthouses surrounded by light emitting diodes, if there is one thing that has remained constant, it is our curiosity and our natural tendency to explore the unexplored. We're natural wanderers, being the only species that you can find in all corners of the world and it is this curiosity that will propel us to continue with further exploration of space.

Author Jason Klassi’s book ‘The Everyday Space Traveler’ is the perfect travelogue cum guide that you could take with you on your first space trip, but wait, here’s what makes it doubly good, it serves just as well as a book you could immerse yourself in, providing great insights into the human way of life here on earth. Filled with colourful photographs and artwork, this book will also act as your own private spaceship that will take you on a once in a lifetime journey into space and back without you even having to leave the confines and comfort of your sofa.

The author through this book takes us on a tour through the solar system, starting off from our lives here on earth to the wonders in space. The Everyday Space Traveler reminds and illuminates our minds to the wonders and forces of nature that the cosmos is capable of. The book also talks about what might be in store for us if we fail to understand our world better and our role in it. This is in many ways a book as much about getting a grasp of space travel as it is about understanding and utilising our time here better. This book is bound to inspire children and young adults to turn to science and understand science's role as a metaphorical candle to remove the darkness surrounding our lives.

The author suggests that one should make the inner space strong before venturing out into outer space. By withdrawing from everyday life, you must prepare yourselves to enter a new one and then when you return from there to your everyday life, you must utilize your new knowledge and new perspective to bring about a positive change back here. Apart from this, the book also talks about the challenges of living in outer space. There are segments on terraforming Mars and establishing space colonies that will further propel space exploration. Jason Klassi’s writing immerses you into the wonders of awe that space travel promises to everyone and the book itself is set in an easy to read and understand layout and language.

Jason Klassi through this wonderful book instils in us the knowledge of recognition of the unimaginable vastness of space and the uniqueness of the not so unique planet Earth that we call our home. Perhaps the most important message you could take away from this book is not to take for granted our lives and our home on this beautiful planet Earth. He inspires you to believe and hope in the greatness that we humans are capable of as we move forward into the future.

A must read for any space enthusiast.

Renaissance man – A review of the book ‘Paths Less Travelled’

“You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life?” - Rumi

Everyday life throws many options at us; it gives us the choice to be the master of our fate. But in spite of such a tempting offer very seldom do men try to enforce their destiny and when they do, it’s even rarer for anyone to get it right all the time. But every now and then, history throws such a polymath into our midst who seems to know exactly what to do and when to do it. And they eventually become the torch bearers for future generations.

Hon Kwong Lee, a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the United States Marine Corps, a former CIA officer and current practitioner of martial arts and acupuncture reveals in this startling and personal memoir, ‘Paths Less Travelled of a Scholar Warrior (Spy) Teacher Healer’, intimate details of an awe inspiring life led by him. Born to Chinese immigrant parents in America, this book details his life from growing up in New York in the 1950’s to joining the Marines after college, fighting the Vietnam war, serving in the CIA for thirty years and then finally learning and teaching martial arts and practising alternate medicine like acupuncture. At every stage in his life, life presented him with two options, two paths that would take him on completely different routes and every single time he chose the difficult and less taken path to arrive at a destination filled with contentment, peace and happiness.

One of the most endearing things about this book is that it is written in such a manner that you will feel as if you are listening to a dear friend whom you haven’t met in a while, telling you his life stories over a good cup of coffee. Hon K Lee has an honest self assured voice that is sometime self deprecating and humorous but is highly sensitive too. This memoir is bound to take you back to your own childhood, your years of growing up not knowing how life would turn out and then of later years of knowing and reminiscing the good parts along with the bad ones. Hon’s dedication and his determination to choose his own path led him to enjoy each and every waking moment of his life and his work. In fact, he chooses not to look at the work he’s doing as merely a job and instead uses his time and skill to help others and become an important catalyst in the positive changes that we all want to see in this world. The book also contains some wonderful personal photographs that corroborate the texts and aid in the narration.

Paths Less Travelled is an entertaining page turner and is an extremely fast read, especially for a memoir that offers an interesting and exciting peek into the life of an extraordinary individual. The events in Hon’s book are not laid down in any chronological order and are rather set according to the various themes discussed which have made an influence in his life. Even as a youngster Hon wanted to see and explore the world that existed outside the confines of Chinatown and his wish got granted as his work took him all over the world. The Vietnam part of the recollection is both horrifying and terrifying to read but at the same time becomes a very humbling experience when you learn about the bravery and sacrifices of so many brave young men. And his recollection of his days at the CIA reads like a script for a James Bond movie, the clandestine operations, the secrecy, the hush – hush manner in which all the details are discussed.

There are in fact a lot of interesting passages and incidents that are bound to leave a lasting impression on you, and in no particular order some of them are - growing up in the 1950’s, the Rudyard Kipling poem given by his father, the Edith incident, the fist fights, the spy training, being a salesman, the Vietnam episode, Uncle Harry, his struggles at the latter part of his career at CIA which eventually became the impetus to kick-start an alternate career involving Chinese medicine and his work in the field of acupuncture.

While a lot of autobiographies and memoirs will leave you impressed and in awe of the principal narrator, not many mange to make a personal connection with the reader. Read this book with Frank Sinatra’s famous track playing in the background and rest assured, you too will be in a happy place.

Nothing against your reviews, which are actualy quite well written. But why are you making a whole thread of reviews under your original post? Why not seperate them to individual threads, so one could comment on each on individual post?

I didn't want to flood the main page with numerous posts of mine, hence decided to club them together. But you are right, it does take away from a reader his chance at commenting or expressing an opinion at a particular post. I think I'll keep this mind for the future. Thanks!